Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-03-25


"But there amt no ladies here to
please" said Pete to himself. There
amt nobody to please in the woods but
ground-hogs and minks. Jehosiphat,
amt tired o climin' hills and crossin'
hollers. The day seems awful long,
but they amt long enough to get over
the places. l wish were up on Sandy.
BY jinks, l must rest"
He stopped, sat his pack down by the
roadside and took seat on the green
turf by the side of it.
"Lemme see, I've got the Big Sandy
to cross and then I'm on the old
Plumber place. That's owned by the
shoddiest man in the whole pack, Judge
Arnold. This lies West. This must
be the land o Helen and Amos Lake
man. BY lingo, what n swindle that
was, wuss nor sellin' pewter jewelry
for gold. Them poor children cheated
out o their home worth five thousand
dollars at least, an given these hills an
whole tract. When | think o it | am
just doggoned'- he brought his
stout stick down upon the ground with
a force which made it crack.
There was a rustling among the
leaves at his side, and he saw snake
known as Il copper-head, on account Of
the bright crest it wore. The peddler
eyed it a moment, as its brilliant little
bead-like eyes twinkled, and its fOrked
tongue darted out of its mouth, and
said:
Now, yer jest like that whole set,
ye're deceivin' every body jest like a
bolt of shoddy muslin. Ye're tryin' to
smile, We doggoned sarpint; SO does
Judge Arnold He smiles, an his in
fernal eyes twinkle jest like yours.
Ye're only waitin' fur chance to bite,
an so is he. Well, l can fix We, eff l
can't him"
With one quick, sure blow from his
stick he crushed the snakes head, and
shouldering his pack went on, leaving
it rigging among the leaves. About
one-fourth of a mile further, as Pete
was descending hill, he paused struck
with amazement. Had he been sud-
denly confronted with view of the
Atlantic Ocean he could no thave been
more surprised. There right before
him were half dozen or more tents or
shanties. There were wagons and
miners tools, and he could easily see
that they had been there for several
days. Ponderous machinery had been
erected and deep shaft sunk, while
all around the ground was black with
lead and silver ore. Floating rumors
had been abroad of lead and silver
mines in these hills of the Big Sandy,
but no one had ever given them Gre
dence. Pete stopped and rubbed his
eyes as if he feared it was an optical
delusion.
"Well, say, now-what in the name
o common sense does it mesn?"
He closed his eyes again, and again
opened them-it was all there yet, the
teams, tents, shanties and machinery.
Pete, i guess We ain t asleepi we've
jist come onto bolt o. calico which ye
didn't think was in the pack 'spose we
90 down and inspect it?"
As Pete walked down toward the
camp of miners, a man, who seemed
about forty-fye years of age, below
medium height and rather heavy set,
came to meet him. He had an hon.
est countenance and mild though shrew
blue eyes One had only to glance at him
to see that he was a thorough business
man.
wall say now y said Pete. stop
ping within few feet Of the smiling
stranger. and staring at him as if he
were CHEST. ''ain't you stranger in
these parts?'
.Yes SIR" the miner answered. Il
have been here but short time"
What We doin'?''
Prospecting"
"Prospectin', what kind of goods is
that ~ asked Pete, removing his pipe
from his mouth -